How to create an array during runtime?

[KoffieMok]

Hi all,

What I'm trying to do is the following:

I want to open one or more files and store their data in an array - a seperate array for each one of the files.
Now I know how many files there will be, but the problem is that it can be one file this run, but next run it can be 5 files and then 3 adn then 4 and so on and so on. So, I figured I need to make arrays (Strings like Tmp1() Tmp2() etc) in runtime.
How do I do this? I think this can only be done by the Dim statement? (Dim Tmp1() As String)

Please advise.

Thanks in advance!

[VBCrazyCoder]

Couldn't you use an array of arrays? That way, you would always have one array that contained each file's associated array (however many are needed). Or you could write your own custom collection and store each files data in this collection.

[KoffieMok]

Thanks for the quick reply...

How do I create a collection? (Or array)

I only know the way by code -->

Dim tmpArray1() As String

I wouldn't have a clue how to do that in runtime...

[VBCrazyCoder]

You would still have to declare your array, then in a loop when you are iterating your files, you would dynamically reinstantiate an array and add it to the original array (using redim preserve or using an arraylist).

You could do something like:

Dim arrAllFilesData As New ArrayList
Dim arrTempSingleFileData As ArrayList
 
            For intFileCount As Integer = 0 To 100
 
                'Set your file stuff here
 
                'Reinstantiate the array
                arrTempSingleFileData = New ArrayList
 
                For intFileLineCount As Integer = 0 To 100
                    'iterating your file line by line
                    arrTempSingleFileData.Add("Some File Text Here")
                Next
 
                'Add the single file array to the main array
                arrAllFilesData.Add(arrTempSingleFileData)
            Next

so for each file you would be reusing the arrTempSingleFileData arraylist as many times as you need to.

[KoffieMok]

Thanks, I think this is the code I was looking for!

Edit: Dang this is goodstuff, this will make my life so much easier... Thanks so much!